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Lescott arrival could see Dunne exit
Stuart Brennan
August 24, 2009
JOLEON Lescott was today due to sign for Manchester City in a deal worth £24m.
And the arrival of the Everton defender after the long- running transfer saga could mean that Richard Dunne played his last game for the Blues in Saturday's 1-0 win over Wolves.
Lescott, who will become the second most expensive defender in British football, is expected to have a medical in Manchester today, and is lined up for a debut against Crystal Palace in Thursday night's Carling Cup tie at Selhurst Park.
City finally clinched the signing by making a third bid of an initial £22m, with an extra £2m dependent on appearances and successes.
That has brought to an end a story which has run for months and which shredded relations between the two clubs and between manager Mark Hughes and David Moyes.
Reports that Everton are set to ask the FA to investigate the deal are wide of the mark, although the unhappy Moyes is believed to be considering his options once the transfer is completed.
The arrival of Lescott puts Dunne's place in the side in jeopardy, and Sunderland head a queue of teams interested in City's longest-serving player.
Ironically, Dunne could be targeted by Everton, from whom the Blues signed him in 2000 for £3m, while Aston Villa are also interested.
But Hughes praised Dunne and his fellow defenders for keeping a third clean sheet of the week against Wolves.
"It's nothing less than I would expect," he said. "We are trying to make the team and the squad stronger."
